TACOMA, Wash. – Splitting the first two games of the non-conference season finale weekend, the Linfield Wildcats baseball team lost to Pacific Lutheran 8-6 but bounced back to take down the Pacific Boxers 7-3 at PLU Field in Tacoma. The club swung the bats well and totaled 19 combined hits in its two games on Saturday.
Drawing a split, Linfield is now 23-17 on the season and finished the NWC season with a record of 16-8.
GAME 1: Pacific Lutheran 8, Linfield 6
A five-run second inning gave Pacific Lutheran a sizable four-run lead in after two frames. Jacob Bockelie's single to score two runs was the highlight of the inning.
The 'Cats bounced back in the next inning.
Ryan Ross crushed a three-run homer over the wall in left to pull Linfield within one.
PLU added to its lead in the bottom of the third when Adam Stump singled to left to drive in Tori Doten. The teams continued to trade punches in the fifth when
Jake Gellos singled to center and brought home Ross to make it a one-run game once again, 6-5.
The Lutes plated two runs in the fifth, scoring on a pair of singles from Matt Vick and Connor Cantu. Gellos singled again in the seventh, scoring
Ben Whitt but the 'Cats could not overcome complete the comeback and PLU went on to win 8-6.
Linfield in the box
Ross led all Wildcat hitters with three RBI on his eighth homer of the year. He went 3 for 5 with two runs scored. Gellos was the only other Wildcat to drive in a run. He had two RBI on 2 for 5 hitting.
Wildcat arms
Cal Neely (L, 4-6) started on the mound for Linfield. He fired the first 5.1 innings where he allowed eight runs on 10 hits. He walked five and struck out three.
Dylan Peters tossed the final 2.2 innings and did not allow a baserunner, striking out one batter.
Lutes at the plate
PLU outhit Linfield 10-7. Three Lutes had multiple hits. Cantu, and Stump each had a pair of hits and two RBI apiece. Vick had two RBI and so did Bockelie.
PLU on the mound
Justin Armbruester (W, 5-3) picked up his fifth win of the season. He threw the first six innings, surrendering five runs on five hits and fanning seven. Tanner Zuber tossed 1/3 of an inning and gave up one run on two hits. Andrew Curran earned his first save of the season. he struck out five and walked two over the final 2.2 innings.
GAME 2: Linfield 7, Pacific 3
Linfield played as the home team and struck first in the third on a
Joey Cassano single to left-center field that brought in
Jake Dennis.
Pacific tied the game when Trevor Quinn doubled down the left field line to plate Joey Galeno.
The 'Cats retook the lead in the bottom of the frame when rookie
Wyatt Smith singled with the bases loaded and brought in Ross from third. Dennis then singled to right and scored Zavala and
Jared Evans to make it 4-1.
Derek Ridgway cut the Linfield lead in half with a solo homer to left in the sixth. Smith pushed the lead back to three in the bottom of the inning after a single allowed
Levi Horner-Villa to score.
The Boxers would add one more run in the seventh but the 'Cats kept a comfortable lead throughout the afternoon. Another Ross homer gave the Wildcats the eventual 7-3 win at PLU Field.
Wildcat leaders
Linfield outhit Pacific 12-7.
Joey Cassano paved the way again, going 3 for 5 with two RBI. Zavala went 2 for 3, including his fifth homer of the year. Dennis drove in three runs and Ross also tapped a pair of two hits. Smith registered the first RBI of his career.
Linfield on the mound
Cason Cunningham (W, 7-4) was dominant on the hill. He threw the first six innings where he allowed two runs on three hits and struck out eight.
Taylor Boos fired the final three frames and earned his first save of the season for his efforts. He gave up one run on four hits and struck out three.
Pacific hitters
Two Boxers had multiple hits. Ridgway went 2 for 5 with a run scored and one RBI. Dustin Meyer went 2 for 4.
Boxers pitching staff
Sam Lawrence (L, 0-2) picked up the loss. He threw the first five innings where he let in five runs on eight hits. Joey Angyus threw next, he gave up two runs in 1.1 innings on four Linfield hits. Ryan Yoder was the last Boxer to throw. He tossed 1.2 innings and did not allow a base runner.
Next
Linfield's season comes to a close Sunday in Tacoma. The 'Cats take on the Lutes at 10 a.m. to start the day, then Linfield plays Puget Sound at 2 p.m. to finish out the 2018 season.
